Bighorn River Flow Outlook
|
|
 |
The Lower Bighorn Watershed (HUC 10080015) spans an area of approximately 1,738 square miles in Montana and Wyoming. The watershed is home to the Bighorn River, which is fed by snowpack and rainfall runoff in the Absaroka Mountains. The area receives an average of 50-60 inches of snow each year, with the snowpack accumulating from November through April. The Bighorn River provides a critical source of surface water for agriculture, industry, and wildlife habitat. The river also sustains several reservoirs, including Boysen Reservoir in Wyoming and Yellowtail Reservoir in Montana. The watershed experiences a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters.
Total streamflow across the Bighorn River was last observed at 10,710 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 21,243 acre-ft of water today; about 41% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 26,124 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2023-06-26 when daily discharge volume was observed at 66,500 cfs.
We are sitting at a 2,250 cfs flow from the Afterbay spillway and expected to stay around this level throughout the season.
